Justin Willingham

My mother introduced me to WKNO-FM and public radio long before I can remember. I suppose the first thing I really recall about WKNO-FM is that every afternoon, when my mother picked me up from school, the radio was tuned-in to The World, then All Things Considered, probably beginning around age 8. The way these reporters and hosts took you from the comfort of your mom's van to wherever in the world they were reporting from absolutely fascinated me. From then on, I was officially hooked.

I first volunteered for Sally Stover at age 15 (1998), working long shifts during the Action Auction and then as her unofficial summer intern. I would sneak back into radio and try to casually introduce myself to the on-air personalities (Kacky and Darel), hoping they'd say, “Hey! You've got just the voice we need for the radio!”

After returning to Memphis from Indiana University in Bloomington in 2006, I had the opportunity to work part-time as the Monday afternoon host on FM 88.9 and Saturday mornings on FM 91.1. Soon thereafter, I was asked to be the local host for All Things Considered and Marketplace every weekday. In 2008, I took over production duties and became the Assistant Operations Manager, editing shows such as The Memphis Symphony Radio Hour and engineering Friday Live Lunch. Since then, my job has included editing all of John Malmo's commentaries, Memphis Moments with Steve Pike, and being the producer of our newest radio program, Counterpoint, with Jonathan Judaken.

WKNO-FM is my constant source for news and information. My dog, Ethel, also enjoys listening every afternoon to All Things Considered, while I'm away at work. With the creation of our HD-2 and HD-3 streams, I am constantly connected to the news that matters, no matter where I am or what I am doing. I am very grateful and lucky to get to work at a job that constantly feeds my mind with informative conversations, interviews, music, and entertainment. I am proud to be a tiny part of WKNO-FM Memphis.